For refinery, petrochemical and gas treatment operators, the priority is to produce products that meet agreed specifications, target production volumes and performance standards. When intermediate or final products go off-spec, catalysts degrade prematurely, unexpected corrosion develops, sludges form or process units underperform, standard quality control analyses methods may not provide sufficient insight.
Our advanced analytics and troubleshooting analyses services deliver the expertise, instrumentation and methodologies needed to identify unknown substances and impurities, and diagnose potential failures enabling you to solve issues and optimize processes. Through our global network of specialized laboratories, we support root cause analysis, claims investigations, in-process control optimization and research and development (R&D) projects across the oil, gas and chemicals value chain.
Resolve complex operational issues with confidence
- Rapid root cause identificationDetermine contamination origin, identify chemical composition of deposits, solve corrosion issues or product degradation using advanced techniques, including LIBS microscopy and GC/VUV[MR1.1] analysis for high-resolution elemental analyses and compositional characterization.
- Protect refinery and plant performanceGain accurate characterization of unexpected and unknown impurities in liquids, solids and gases to support informed and effective corrective actions.
- Maintain product specification complianceVerify conformity with detailed compositional and elemental analysis to avoid costly off-spec batches.
- Optimize processes and catalyst performanceAccess specialist support to investigate premature catalyst deactivation and process inefficiencies.
- Strengthen your position with claims and support dispute resolutionSupport technical assessments and commercial claims with independent laboratory investigations.
- Support innovation and R&DValidate new formulations, new feedstocks and optimize treatment technologies with comprehensive analytical capabilities.
Our advanced analytical capabilities
Our OGC laboratories combine deep chemical expertise and decades of experience with state-of-the-art analytical equipment and methods to deliver comprehensive analytical solutions.
Organic analytics
- Molecular spectroscopy: NMR (400 MHz), FT-IR (ATR)
- Gas chromatography with multiple sample introduction and preparation technologies such as:
- Headspace sampling and injection
- SPME
- Direct injection systems for liquefied gases analysis and thermodesorption with a wide range of detector technologies, such as FID, ECD, pFPD, TCD, Universal Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) and Mass Spectrometry
- Multidimensional chromatography: GCxGC, RGA, Reformulizer, etc.
- Liquid chromatography with a wide range of detector technologies, including DAD, UV-VIS, RID, FLD, MSD
- Gel permeation chromatography (GPC)
Inorganic analytics, elements and ions
- ICP-OES, ICP-MS, AAS (flame, FIMS)
- Digital Microscopy (4K) with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
- X-ray fluorescence: semi-quantitative and quantitative (Na-U), WDX and EDX
- Elemental analysis: C,H,N,S, O, halogens
- Ion chromatography: combustion and conventional for cations, anions and organic acids
Additional analytical methods
- Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with EDX detector
- Particle size distribution: laser diffraction and sieve analysis
- BET surface area, density, viscosity, melting/boiling point
- Surface tension, solubility, hydrolysis and photo-transformation testing
- Karl Fischer moisture analysis, redox and titration methods
Why SGS?
We combine global reach with specialized petroleum and chemical laboratory expertise. Our laboratories operate per internationally recognized standards and apply both standardized, proprietary analyses methods and client-specific procedures to address complex analytical challenges.
With experienced chemists, advanced instrumentation and proven methodologies, we deliver reliable, independent results that help you manage risk and support your decision-making process.